Meet the h woman who’s snapped up Karl Stefanovic!
The Today host is ready to introduce his new girlfriend to the world
After numerous false starts since splitting from his wife last year, Karl Stefanovic has fallen hard for an Aussie beauty almost 10 years his junior – and this time it’s serious.
In fact, Karl is already keen to go public with Brisbane-born model and shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, who he has been dating since before Christmas. The move will see him put his messy split with his wife of 21 years, 45-year-old Cassandra Thorburn, behind him. It’s believed Karl hopes the public declaration will help to cement his feelings for his younger girlfriend, and prove to her – and the rest of Australia – that he’s ready to say goodbye to the single party life. Friends say Karl has invited 33-year-old Jasmine to the April wedding of his younger brother Peter to Today colleague Sylvia Jeffreys. Karl sees the occasion as an opportunity to introduce LA-based Jasmine to his family and friends. As well, he plans to take her to the Logie Awards, also in April. “Karl and Jasmine don’t want to hide because they aren’t ashamed of being together,” a friend of
Karl’s reveals to Woman’s Day exclusively. “They’re hoping that once they declare they’re a couple, public interest will die down.” Karl, 42, and Jasmine met at a boat party in Sydney while she was visiting friends during December. She was said to be hesitant at first, aware of the public interest in Karl’s love life – but the Today host was instantly smitten and his cheeky humour won her over. Soon after meeting, the couple started dating and became inseparable. When she returned to LA, and her shoe business Mara & Mine, Karl used part of his twomonth break from television to travel to the US and spend time with her. After a father and son bonding trip to Aspen with his eldest child, 17-year-old Jackson, over the school holidays, Karl travelled separately to Los Angeles to see Jasmine, wining and dining the beautiful blonde. Determined to protect their budding romance from prying eyes, Karl made sure he checked into hotels under fake names, and the couple even travelled to and from restaurants at different times to avoid the possibility of being photographed together.
Despite having to return to his work commitments in Australia – stepping back into his hosting role on Today just a few weeks ago – Karl is determined not to let distance ruin this new relationship. Friends say he makes sure he texts Jasmine to reassure her of his feelings. He’s even already met some of her family – a big move given how close she is to them.
“I think Jasmine was cautious at first because there had been so many rumours about Karl dating multiple women since his marriage ended. But he told her his love life has been exaggerated,” his friend confides.
“Karl’s the kind of man who’s happy in a committed relationship, and that’s already what he wants with Jasmine. And the good news is that she feels the same way. I think she knows Karl isn’t an angel, but he’s hardly the devil he’s made out to be either.”
It’s easy to see why Jasmine would have concerns. Since announcing his separation from Cass, Karl has been linked to a slew of eligible females including Melbourne food blogger Sofia Levin, Sunrise host Samantha Armytage, Australian model Ashley Hart, and even his old friend, singer and actress Delta Goodrem, who he is said to have inundated with texts and calls in the early days of his marriage breakdown. But now it seems he only has eyes for Jasmine.
Thankfully, she understands what it’s like to date someone famous – prior to meeting Karl, she was seeing the Australian Wallabies player Drew Mitchell on and off for years.
Friends say Karl is also hoping to introduce Jasmine to his three children – Jackson, Ava, 11, and River, 10 – when she visits in April, a sign of how committed he really is, as he’s been determined to shelter his kids from the public fallout of his split.
It also follows his admission earlier this month that he wants to be more present for his kids, and to “rebuild whatever has happened in the past”.
‘They don’t want to hide – they aren’t ashamed to be together’